Plenary Session: "SOLUTIONS IN THE FACE OF FEAR: TRANSFORMATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR BLACK TRANS WOMEN"This powerful plenary brings together visionary leaders
TS Madison,
Dominique Morgan, &
Monroe Alise to explore how innovative, community-driven housing initiatives are transforming survival into thriving for Black transgender women. Through examining the groundbreaking
TS Madison Starter House model, speakers will share how strategic investments in Black trans leadership can create sustainable solutions that withstand political shifts while directly addressing the intersecting challenges of housing insecurity, economic marginalization, and systemic violence.
Speakers will address:
- How community-centered housing models can restore dignity and safety while honoring the agency of Black trans women engaged in sex work
- Strategies for developing comprehensive support systems that go beyond shelter to include pathways to economic independence
- The transformative power of creating spaces where Black trans brilliance is invested in rather than merely protected
- Approaches to building sustainable initiatives that can withstand changing political climates and funding landscapes
- The broader implications of these models for advancing Black trans liberation across multiple sectors
This illuminating conversation features perspectives from three leaders with extensive experience in developing innovative community care initiatives. Special attention will be given to the practical implementation challenges and successes of the
TS Madison Starter House as a blueprint for similar efforts nationwide.
Join us for this essential discussion that moves beyond narratives of victimization to celebrate the visionary leadership of Black trans women in creating their own solutions. This plenary embodies the conference's commitment to centering those most impacted by human rights violations in designing and implementing transformative change that advances dignity, economic justice, and collective liberation.
In a landscape where fear and discrimination threaten the safety and dignity of Black trans women, the TS Madison Starter House emerges as a beacon of possibility. This session explores how community-driven solutions, like the Starter House, are countering systemic inequities by providing safe, affirming, and empowering spaces. Attendees will learn how this innovative program bridges the gap between survival and thriving for Black trans women in the South. By incubating hope and belief, the Starter House challenges the narrative of scarcity and fear with a model rooted in love, resilience, and authenticity.
